It would appear that our rainy season is really over until next winter (which is not to say that it won’t rain at all between now and then, just that things will be more dry than wet). So, it seemed like a good time to document some recent developments in the Free-Ride garden.

Today, I’m presenting six photos from the garden for you to identify:

Common name is fine — no need to provide the Linnaean binomial unless you really feel like it.

No, I’m not asking you to identify these plants because I’ve forgotten what I’ve planted. (Not this time, anyway.)

Your identifications will germinate (harden-off? compost?) in comment moderation until Monday night (9 PM PST, to be precise), so there’s no need to worry that your comment will spoil the fun for others who want to guess.

If you have a favorite recipe that uses one or more of these mystery crops and you’d like to share, that would be awesome.

And now for the photos:

Mystery crop #1:

Mystery crop #2:

Mystery crop #3:

Mystery crop #4:

Mystery crop #5:

Mystery crop #6:

Good luck, home botanists!

UPDATE: Some very good identifications, but some of these crops seem to be more challenging to identify than others.

In case it helps, here’s a clue: In terms of the climate zones in the Sunset Western Garden Book, I think we’re about 16 (“Central and Northern California Coast Thermal Belts”).

#1 is strawberries.
#2 might be a carrot?
#3 I’m going to guess is a brassica of some flavor, but I don’t recognise it at all.
# 4 is peas (my favorite fresh-from-the-garden veggie!).
#5 might be a hot pepper?
#6 is maybe potatoes.

1. yummy strawberries in blossom (fruit to follow)
2. leaf looks like celery, but stem looks reddish, so you got me
3. artichokes
4. peas (in NJ plant on 3/19-St. Joseph’s feast day)
5. pretty flowery bush about to bloom … stems too tender for azaleas, so I’m still guessing. Is it new since I’ve been in the yard?
6. looks like radish leaves, but not quite red globe that I’ve grown, maybe daikon or some such?

Daffs and forsythia out here but someone at my mini iris blooms–rabbit more likely than deer; tulip trees, cherries and Bradford pears just opening. All holding well since temps still at or below normal. Nose beginning to run.

I’m envious of your spring – I’m a Bay Area native now in cold eastern WA. Not much growing here yet – my bulbs are a few inches tall, but no color showing, and it’s a while before we can even think of planting the garden.
I am pretty sure of these:
#1: strawberries
#3: artichokes
#4: sweet peas (could be peas for eating, but I’ll go with the flowers)
#6: radishes
but I’m stuck on the other two…